* * *

Many who had worked in the Duke’s castle since Felix first arrived were initially reluctant to take the job due to the Duke’s cursed reputation.

However, they found the work unexpectedly comfortable, as Felix was not a demanding master and spent most of his time in battle or his study.

As a result, many of the servants grew complacent or lazy.

Some, who had benefited from Felix’s fairness and open-mindedness, developed loyalty, but they were few.

“Is he trying to act like the duchess already, even though he’s just a fiancée?”

“I heard he’s pregnant with His Grace’s child. That’s why he’s acting high and mighty.”

“How do we know that’s even true?”

Naturally, dissatisfaction with Lowell, who disrupted their peaceful routine, arose.

Even as they responded to the butler’s summons, they muttered suspicions and complaints about the new fiancée.

“Maybe he wants to splurge before giving birth?”

“Exactly. What other reason could he have for acting so hastily?”

Their discontent grew sharper in the collective murmurs.

Just as the atmosphere reached its peak, Lowell appeared.

“Oh, is that him?”

“He’s really beautiful.”

“And, honestly, quite handsome.”

“Sure, and that’s how he probably fooled the Duke.”

With Felix absent, the servants indulged in unchecked gossip.

While a fleeting rumor that “the Felix Duke” might be enamored with his betrothed spread yesterday, most dismissed it as nonsense.

Felix’s reputation for cold-hearted pragmatism left little room for such notions.

“Hello. I should have greeted you yesterday, but I didn’t have the chance.”

Contrary to their negative assumptions, the youngest son of a count spoke gently and with unwavering confidence.

His demeanor exuded the warmth of someone from the capital, Phoebos, untouched by hardship or greed.

“I’m Lowell Clarke. I’ve asked for your presence because I need your help.”

His polite yet self-assured attitude subtly softened their hostility.

One servant even found themselves thinking, ‘He might not be as bad as I thought.’

They quickly shook their head to dismiss the thought.

‘Don’t be fooled. People from Phoebos hide sinister intentions behind their smiles.’

The servant blamed themselves for briefly admiring the man’s appearance and steeled their resolve.

‘He’ll probably demand lavish decorations or expensive furniture.’

Lowell scanned the gathered servants. He could feel their sharp, judgmental gazes, like piercing spears, but he knew this was a hurdle he had to overcome.

Their thoughts were obvious.

‘They probably think I’m just a foolish Omega scheming for status and wealth, even deceiving the infamous Felix Duke to get it.’

That’s why he had already decided on his first order—something that wouldn’t cost a single coin.

“Today, we’ll be removing all the blackout curtains from the castle.”

A heavy silence fell over the group.

The murmuring stopped as everyone tried to process the unexpected command.

Even Hamilton, the most composed, raised his hand to speak. Lowell gestured for him to proceed.

“Young master, the curtains were installed under the Duke’s orders. Removing them purely for aesthetic reasons might not be appropriate.”

Lowell had anticipated this response.

“I have the Duke’s permission,” he replied, shamelessly leveraging Felix’s authority.

It was a calculated move, and he knew it would be the most effective.

“The castle will feel more alive with sunlight streaming in. Please consider this a direct order from the Duke.”

The room buzzed with murmurs.

They had expected demands for luxury but were now baffled by the peculiar instruction to remove curtains.

Some began to suspect that Lowell simply wanted to exert control, assigning tasks for the sake of it.

Yet, none could openly defy a command attributed to the Duke.

Rejecting the order would mean opposing Felix himself.

Lowell cleverly phrased it as a “request” from him but a “command” from Felix.

“Well then, let’s get started!”

The servants reluctantly dispersed, planning to remove only a few visible curtains to appease the new master.

They assumed it would be enough.

But Lowell was not so easily placated.

“Yes, that’s a perfect spot for sunlight—remove those first,” he said, flitting from room to room like a whirlwind, checking progress and assigning priorities.

He even spotted idle workers with uncanny precision, tapping their shoulders to keep them on task.

“Oh, and take down the sheer curtains too. Mold has grown in those corners because no sunlight reaches them. That one over there as well—remove it.”

To Lowell, darkness bred not only physical mold but also emotional stagnation. His goal was to rid the castle of both.

“Are you really going to keep doing this?” Tony asked, exasperated after silently trailing him.

“Sir Tony, instead of just following me around, why not help the others? Look over there—don’t they seem like they’re struggling to remove that curtain? You’re strong; lend them a hand.”

Tony bit back the retort rising to his throat.

For now, Lowell was his superior, and the man was genuinely bustling around, organizing and supervising.

Tony couldn’t bring himself to tell someone already working so hard to mind their own business.

Besides, the results spoke for themselves.

Simply removing the heavy curtains transformed the once-dreary castle, filling it with a fresh, vibrant atmosphere.

Begrudgingly, Tony admitted the difference was impressive.

Even a few servants, who initially grumbled, couldn’t help but let out words of admiration.

“Understood,” Tony said, finally relenting.

Tony admitted that Lowell had made the right call this time and rolled up his sleeves.

“Please take care of the banquet hall. I’ll head to the study.”

Of course, not everyone had stopped giving Lowell wary looks.

And in the study, those very types seemed to have gathered.

“Nothing’s been done here, has it?”

They were lounging on the floor, half-heartedly pretending to work, but when Lowell entered, they reluctantly stood.

Even then, their sluggish movements made it clear they didn’t want to work and were only putting on a show because Lowell was watching.

Things only got worse when Tony left Lowell’s side.

Realizing once again that simply issuing orders wasn’t enough, Lowell began prodding them into action.

“The curtains on that side can stay—they help prevent the books from fading. But the curtains directly behind the Duke’s desk need to be drawn back immediately.”

For workers who dragged their feet, precise instructions left no room for excuses.

“Climb the ladder, please. Those on the ground, hold it steady so no one gets hurt.”

Grumbling silently about why they had to do such tasks, a maid climbed the ladder and began tugging at the curtain.

Those instructed to hold the ladder did so with one hand while chatting idly with other servants nearby.

It happened in a moment.

The maid on the ladder yanked at the curtain too forcefully, losing her balance.

The person holding the ladder, distracted, failed to notice until it was too late.

The ladder tipped precariously.

“Ah! Ah!”

The servant finally steadied the ladder, but it only made things worse.

The maid, trying to catch herself, completely lost her grip and began to fall.

Lowell, catching sight of the disaster unfolding, sprinted toward her in a panic.

As someone smaller than himself plummeted from above, he instinctively reached out, driven by an ingrained reflex to help those in danger.

‘Ah, I need to be more careful…’

The thought came too late.

”Crash!”

“Oh no!”

Lowell caught the falling maid with his body.

But unlike his previous life, this one wasn’t built to absorb such impacts.

Pain surged through him as his body acted as a cushion.

“I-I’m so sorry!”

The maid’s face had gone pale as she stammered out an apology.

* * *